Trey McBride came close to leading the Arizona Cardinals to a win on Sunday, but a late touchdown pass attempt fell incomplete. Despite the loss to the Indianapolis Colts, McBride spoke about how the offense adapted after several key players were sidelined.
The Cardinals entered the game with backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett starting. In the first half, they lost tight end Travis Vokolek, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., and running back Emari Demercado to injuries. The team still managed to gain 400 yards of offense.
“I’m proud of the way all the receivers stepped up,” McBride said. “Beach (OL Kelvin Beachum) and Elijah (Higgins), with Travis going down early. It changes a lot of stuff in the game plan. I’m really proud of the way the offense handled change. Emari going down. There were a lot of moving puzzle pieces.”
Head coach Jonathan Gannon reiterated that Kyler Murray will return as starting quarterback once he recovers from his foot injury, though national reports suggested Murray may need at least another week before returning.
Defensive lineman Calais Campbell emphasized earlier in the week that the previous loss to Tennessee would not impact their play against Indianapolis. The Cardinals performed well but ultimately could not secure a victory. Gannon called Sunday’s result “disappointing” but noted that there were encouraging aspects to build on as they prepare for their next opponent, Green Bay.
Brissett finished with a solid performance, making several notable plays and displaying mobility under pressure. He previously set his career-best passing total of 326 yards while playing for Indianapolis in 2019.
Running back Bam Knight led Arizona with 11 carries and scored a rushing touchdown, also contributing with a 20-yard reception. Gannon attributed Knight’s increased role partly to Demercado’s injury during the game.
Wide receivers Zay Jones and Michael Wilson combined for nine catches and 123 yards despite Wilson dealing with an injured finger.
Rookie safety Kitan Crawford made an impact on special teams by tackling an opposing returner deep in Colts territory after beating double coverage as a gunner, which helped shift field position early in the game.
The Cardinals recently placed punter Blake Gillikin on injured reserve due to a back injury—a recurrence of an issue that caused him to miss all of 2020—leaving veteran Pat O’Donnell to handle punting duties this week.
On Sunday, Arizona used its intended starting offensive line unit—Paris Johnson Jr., Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Will Hernandez, and Jonah Williams—for only the second time since early last season due to previous injuries.
Brissett summed up the team’s mindset following another narrow defeat: “We just have to continue to get better. The speech that JG gave us after the game was, ‘We’re not as far as we think, but we still have a lot of work to do.’ Guys accepted that challenge.”
